The new long-haul Volvo VNL and regional-haul VNR series trucks combine active safety innovations to help drivers reduce fatigue and distraction, making them the safest Volvo trucks ever, the OEM said.

“The new VNR and VNL series strengthen our leading passive safety features with active safety innovations to help drivers prevent accidents before they occur,” said Wade Long, director of product marketing for Volvo Trucks North America. “It’s not just about protecting the driver; it’s about protecting everyone else on the road as well.”

The new VNR and new VNL series cabs are built with high-strength steel and exceed both the Volvo Swedish Cab Safety Test and ECE R-29 rollover requirements. The VNR and VNL also feature the industry’s only standard driver’s side airbag.

By continually monitoring operating parameters, Volvo Enhanced Stability Technology (VEST) detects imminent loss of control, jackknife, or rollover events. The system automatically reduces engine torque and selectively applies braking to help keep the truck on course. VEST has been a standard offering on Volvo’s on-highway models since 2007.

Volvo Active Driver Assist is in constant operation while the vehicle is in motion, providing stationary object detection with stationary vehicle braking, which sends audible and visual warnings, including a red warning light that appears in the windshield, alerting the driver to take action if needed, if a metallic object is detected in front of the truck. Braking assist can be applied—at speeds greater than 15 MPH—when the system recognizes the stationary object as a vehicle, independent of whether cruise control is engaged. The driver will receive a warning up to 3.5 seconds before an imminent impact with the vehicle, and, if no action is taken by the driver, Volvo Active Driver Assist will automatically engage the brakes.

Volvo Active Driver Assist also integrates an optional Lane Departure Warning System with Data Capture capability. Additionally, Volvo Active Driver Assist works with cruise control to help the driver maintain a set following distance behind the forward vehicle.

Also among the trucks’ standard safety features are a standard driver’s side airbag and Volvo Enhanced Stability Technology (VEST), which monitors operating parameters to detect imminent loss of control, jackknife or rollover events. Volvo also employs LED bulbs as standard equipment for all exterior and interior lighting, which the OEM says will improve visibility, help fight fatigue, and reduce maintenance. Automatic lighting and rain-sensing wipers are also available to help improve safety.

“We aspire to zero crashes and zero injuries, protecting both drivers and other road users,” said Magnus Koeck, vice president of marketing and brand management, Volvo Trucks North America. “But mitigating these events is also a huge cost savings to truck owners.”